Damian Lewis has penned a heartbreaking tribute to his late wife, actress Helen McCrory.
The actor recalled the Peaky Blinders’ star’s final days and her immense bravery as she battled cancer.
Helen, who swore her close friends to secrecy about her condition, was determined to put on a brave face and insisted she had lived a great life.
“She was a people person, sure,” Damian penned in The Sunday Times.
He continued wrote: “I’ve never known anyone so consciously spread happiness.
“She has exhorted us to be courageous and not afraid
“As she said repeatedly to the children, ‘Don’t be sad, because even though I’m about to snuff it, I’ve lived the life I wanted to.'”
(Image: PA)
He went on to revealed Helen, 52, told their children not to be ‘afraid’ of their emotions or anger at the situation.
Helen instead that when used right it could be a ‘positive emotion’.
In an incredibly personal account of their final week, Damian, 50, wrote: “Even when dying in her last few days, when talking to our wonderful carers, she repeatedly said, ‘thank you so much’ in her half-delirious state,” he said.
(Image: Getty Images)
Confirming her death, on Friday, Damian said in a statement: “I’m heartbroken to announce that after a heroic battle with cancer, the beautiful and mighty woman that is Helen McCrory has died peacefully as home, surrounded by a wave of love from friends and family.
“She died as she lived. Fearlessly. God we love her and know how lucky we are to have had her in our lives. She blazed so brightly. Go now, Little One, into the air, and thank you.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Helen enjoyed an illustrious career with a number of high profile film and TV roles.
She played Clair Dowar in the 2012 James Bond film Skyfall and Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter franchise.
She had been married to Damian since 2007.
Helen leaves behind two children a daughter Manon, 14, and 13-year-old son Gulliver.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
